Las Vegas to New Orleans

Drive from Las Vegas to New Orleans, visiting the Grand Canyon and much more.

Explore southern America on a road trip and discover what is surely one of the USA's kookiest corners. Beginning among the fun and colour of Las Vegas, take in the legendary Grand Canyon and sacred desert landscapes of Monument Valley. From there it's on to New Mexico, home to the legendary Carlsbad Caverns, UFO sightings and 'the city different' – also known as Santa Fe. Head east into Texas, stopping by the historic riverfront of San Antonio along the way and then finish up this adventure in New Orleans. In a country that's all about the big, the bold and the bizarre, America's southwest is not to be missed.

25% OFF selected USA trips

Get 25% off our trips to the USA! See our terms and conditions for applicable departures. Hurry, offer runs out 31 August 2017.

25% OFF selected USA trips

Get 25% off our trips to the USA! See our terms and conditions for applicable departures. Hurry, offer runs out 31 August 2017.

25% discount applies to selected USA trips and departures. See list below for all applicable departures.
Discount applies to new bookings strictly made and deposited between 21 July and 31 August 2017 in IE, CH, ZA and EU. The discount applies to the land tour price only and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and are not combinable. Discount does not apply to local payments/kitty, permits, additional travel arrangements, international and local airfares. Deposit per person per trip is required upon booking and full payment 56 days prior to departure. If booking within 56 days of departure, full payment is due immediately. All tours are subject to availability. Offer ends 31 August 2017. Standard booking conditions apply.

Why we love this trip

The Grand Canyon needs no introduction. Camp for two nights in the national park, allowing a full day to explore, a chance to see an incredible canyon sunrise, and maybe fly overhead

Explore parts of Monument Valley only accessible with a Navajo guide, and share in the unique opportunity to learn the culture and customs of one of the largest North American Indian tribes

In Mesa Verde National Park, step back into North American history with the ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people. These 600 rock cut houses are one of the best and largest archaeological sites in the country

Santa Fe is a haven for colourful characters, a place where New Mexico's artists and culture-buffs flourish under the hot sun and year-round blue skies. Explore its ancient history, contemporary heart, desert soul, and tongue-tingling food

Uncover a little piece of Mexico in the US in San Antonio. Relive Davy Crockett’s last days at the Alamo and sample the tacos and cocktails along the buzzing River Walk

Is this trip right for you?

This is a participatory trip. That’s a fancy way of saying you’re not just along for the ride – you’re part of a team! You know the phrase ‘the more you put in, the more you get out’. Well that’s extra true on this trip. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and help out with camp activities like food prep and washing up. It’s all about giving your new travel mates a hand – everyone knows there’s nothing worse than trying to put up a tent on your own!

That teamwork also extends to our optional food kitty of approximately US$10 per day, run to cover the cost of meals. This kitty saves you worrying about stuff like where to get food or what exactly sales tax is, and actually helps keep your costs down. Instead of paying individually as you go, it means we can bulk purchase items and cook our own food – though there’s always the chance to use it for the occasional pizza night! The kitty is optional and for your convenience, so if you've got specific dietary requirements you can opt out and purchase (and cook) your own food.

The United States is a world of endless possibilities – that’s why our Basix trips are designed so they fit together as (not quite endless) combinations. That means while you might just be starting your trip, some of your new travel mates may have been travelling together for a week or more (and so have some great tips for you). You can see how our trips fit together and all the different possible combinations at www.intrepidtravel.com/brochures. Simply click view/download on the North America brochure and look at the combo map on page 12.

Road tripping is the ultimate way to see the US, and with it being such a big country, travel times can be long. The drive across Texas on Day 8, for example, clocks in at around nine hours. You'll be spending a fair amount of time in a van with other travellers, so conditions may feel a little cramped. This is all part of the adventure though, and long driving days are perfect for soaking up the spectacular scenery, breaking out that new book or album, and maybe making some lifelong friends.

This trip visits Mesa Verde National Park and you’ll be able to take a short walk around the area. Please note that there won't be a lot of opportunity for longer hikes though.

Gallery

Itinerary

Welcome to the USA! Kick off this adventure in the Neon City, Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world. Your adventure begins with a Welcome Meeting at 6pm – double check with reception to confirm the time and place. There are no activities planned today so you can arrive at anytime before then. If you can't arrange a flight that arrives on time, you may wish to arrive a day early – we’ll happily book you additional accommodation (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. As there’s so much to do in Vegas we recommend arriving a few days early anyway! We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at the meeting, so please ensure you have these on hand. Las Vegas caters to all tastes, from opulent casinos on the Strip and all night party spots, to stimulating museums, dazzling circus shows, aquariums and botanical gardens. Try your luck on the casino floor, catch an eye-popping show, hit top speed at a theme park, relive the city’s past at the Neon museum (graveyard of iconic Vegas signs), head downtown for a slice of retro Vegas, or just simply relax at the pool. This evening, maybe head out with the group and test your limits at an all you can eat buffet!

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Optional Activities

Las Vegas - Big Apple Express roller coaster - USD15

Meals Included

While the lights of Las Vegas might be dazzling, your eyes are in for a real treat today as they'll fall on the incredible Grand Canyon. Leave Vegas and drive along a section of famous Route 66 to one of the world’s seven wonders (approximately 5 hours). You’ll have two nights here to help you’ll fully comprehend this amazing sight. There are plenty of things to see and do during your time here, so be prepared for busy and active days. Peer over the rim and stand in awe as you watch the setting sun ignite the multi-coloured rock walls. For the next two nights you’ll camp out in one of the world’s most magnificent settings, surrounded by the smell of pine and cedar and enveloped by a stunning canopy of stars at night.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Grand Canyon National Park

Meals Included

Take time today to explore at your own pace. Maybe rise early for an incredible sunrise, then soar like a California Condor over the canyon with a scenic helicopter flight (not included). If you get active, then descend through pine trees into the heart of the immense abyss, hiking from red rock to white powder. Discover this stunning gorge – 1.5 kilometres deep and formed by over six million years of erosion from the Colorado River – by strolling around the edges, or hiking along the South Kaibab trail or to Plateau Point. Or perhaps join rangers to learn about the park’s geological story, watch an IMAX film to discover the canyon from a different perspective, or simply relax with a book and a backdrop like no other. Whatever you choose, you’ll find that the canyon depths are nothing short of mind-blowing.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Optional Activities

Grand Canyon - Hiking - Free

Grand Canyon - IMAX movie - USD15

Grand Canyon - Helicopter flight (45 mins) - USD295

Meals Included

Cruise the scenery of classic Western cinema into the Navajo Nation, home to Monument Valley and one of the largest North American Indian tribes (approximately 4 hours). The reservation here is the largest in the US and home to more than 200,000 Indians of the Navajo Tribe. The towering sandstone formations scattered across the landscape give the area its name, and the angle of the sun means that the landscape is constantly changing colour and it's near impossible to take a bad photo. When you arrive, let a Navajo guide share their culture and knowledge on an optional Jeep ride through the beautiful landscape, taking in flaming red cliffs, visiting traditional Navajo homes, and hiking up sweeping sand dunes. You’ll visit places that are only accessible with a Navajo guide, and tonight you can choose to join the locals for an authentic Navajo dinner around a campfire, listening to their traditional songs and stories.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Optional Activities

Monument Valley - Navajo-guided jeep tour (2.5 hrs) - USD55

Monument Valley - Jeep tour & overnight experience - USD90

Meals Included

Step back in time today and understand human history in North American with one of the best and largest archaeological sites in the country. Travel from Monument Valley to Mesa Verde National Park (approximately 3.5 hours). Although the desert-scapes and cactus-spiked mesas might seem pretty uninhabitable, this part of the American Southwest has been settled for thousands of years. The park protects over 4,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans, who made the area their home for over 700 years from A.D. 550 to A.D. 1300. Explore a cliff dwelling on a short walk – where you can descend a ladder into a kiva, a round, subterranean ceremonial structure – or (for a small fee) join a ranger-led walk. The ranger will help you access the more difficult sites like ‘Cliff Palace’ or ‘Balcony House’, and help you learn more about this ancient site.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Mesa Verde National Park

Optional Activities

Mesa Verde - Guided Tour of Ruins - USD13

Meals Included

Continue the journey north to Santa Fe (approximately 6.5 hours). Welcome to a place that the locals call ‘the city different’, a place often seen as a haven for colourful characters. Santa Fe is a city whose artistic, musical and culinary offerings are greater than its size suggests. The capital of New Mexico, Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in the US, and a place where artists and culture-buffs flourish under the hot desert sun and year-round blue skies. Pop your head into the museums (like that dedicated Georgia O'Keeffe or those dotted around downtown), or contemplate eccentric (weird, wonderful and just downright bizarre!) folk-art at the numerous galleries. You might like to check out the pueblo architecture surrounding the town plaza or see the San Miguel Mission, the USA's oldest church.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Meals Included

Head south and unearth a world hidden beneath the stark, barren desert after leaving Texas behind for New Mexico (approximately 5 hours). When you arrive, head deep underground for a world-class cave experience in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Marvel at the massive, ornate formations that burst from the cavern’s edges in the 8.2 acre ‘Big Room’ and beyond. One of the largest caverns in the world, Carlsbad Cavern is still only partially explored, with 119 caves recorded so far. There are yet more wonders outside the cave – take a seat outside the park at sunset and watch hundreds of thousands of bats spiralling out in a swarming column in search of food. Please note that as the bats migrate south in October for the winter, this is a seasonal sight and is best viewed in July and August. You’ll spend the night in a campground near the town of Carlsbad.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Meals Included

Take a long full day’s drive southwest across the Lone Star state of Texas to San Antonio (approximately 9 hours). This is the perfect chance to soak up the scenery, catch up on some reading, and ask your fellow travellers any questions you’ve been dying to know the answer to. In San Antonio discover a little piece of Mexico in the US and a city full of rich history. San Antonio is home to the famed Alamo, a shrine to Texan liberty. The 18th century Spanish-Mexican fort has been reconstructed and you can relive Davy Crockett’s last days here. The famous frontiersman was one of 187 people who died trying to defend the fort against a 1,000-strong Mexican army. San Antonio is also brimming with historical missions and fine art museums. Don’t miss the chance to meander through the shops and restaurants that line the city’s famous River Walk, sample the impressive cocktail scene, and seek out some of the city's amazing food trucks.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Optional Activities

San Antonio - The Alamo Mission - Free

San Antonio - Riverwalk - Free

San Antonio - The Alamo IMAX Theater - USD14

Meals Included

Join the truckers along Highway 10 for the drive towards Louisiana (approximately 7 hours). Today is flexible as we try to cover as much ground as we can to get us as close to New Orleans as possible. We will likely camp somewhere in East Texas, or near Sam Houston Jones State Park or the town of Lafayette in Louisiana.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Meals Included

Head across the state of Louisiana to New Orleans - the 'Big Easy' (approximately 2.5 hours).

The trip finishes on arrival into New Orleans and no accommodation is provided tonight. The arrival time depends on each group, but if you decide to fly out on this day, please don't book a flight before 9pm. This will give you enough time to catch a shuttle from the hotel to the airport and be there two hours before departure. If you are staying in town for the evening, perhaps take a walk down rowdy Bourbon Street or through the former plantation area of the Garden District, or head out for a typical Cajun-style dinner and toast to your adventure.

If you do wish to spend extra time in New Orleans we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

Optional Activities

New Orleans - Bourbon Street - Free

New Oleans - Cabildo - USD5

New Orleans - Cemetery Tour - USD25

New Orleans - French Market - Free

New Orleans - Swamp Tour - USD49

New Orleans - Mississippi Riverboat Cruise - USD70

New Orleans - New Orleans School of Cooking - USD29

New Orleans - Presbytere - USD6

New Orleans - Preservation Hall Jazz - USD15

New Orleans - Ursuline Convent Tours - USD5

New Orleans - Voodoo Museum - USD7

Meals Included

There are no meals included on this day.

Inclusions

Meals

No meals are included on this tour

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (8 nights),
Hotel (1 night)

Included activities

Grand Canyon National Park

Mesa Verde National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Meals

No meals are included on this tour

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (8 nights),
Hotel (1 night)

Included activities

Grand Canyon National Park

Mesa Verde National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Dates & availability

Trip search is unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Las Vegas to New Orleans trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

Next trip departures

Jump to a departure month

Important notes

1. This trip finishes on arrival into New Orleans in the afternoon on day 10.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.